Adjustable tables for use in package forming systems and related methods

Abstract

Adjustable tables for use in a packaging forming system and related methods are provided. An adjustable table for use in a packaging forming system can include outer side panels and moveable inner side panels moveably connected to the outer side panels with the outer side panels held stationary relative to the moveable inner side panels. The adjustable table can also include a table top secured to the moveable inner side panels. The table top and the inner side panels are configured to move upwardly or downwardly relative to the outer side panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An adjustable table for use in a packaging forming system, the adjustable table comprising:
 outer side panels; 
 moveable inner side panels moveably connected to the outer side panels with the outer side panels held stationary relative to the moveable inner side panels; 
 a table top secured to the moveable inner side panels, the table top and the inner side panels configured to move upwardly or downwardly relative to the outer side panels; and 
 cam plates movably connected to the moveable inner side panels and the outer side panels with the cam plates, the inner side panels, and the outer side panels configured to interact with each other so that linear horizontal movements of the cam plates translates to generally upward and downward movement of the table top, wherein each of the cam plates comprise two cam rollers protruding outward from a portion positioned below the inner side panels that engage horizontal slots in the respective outer side panels so that, during movement of the cam plates, the cam plates are moved in a horizontal movement. 
 
     
     
       2. The adjustable table according to  claim 1 , wherein the table top is configured to support bottom sheet material used to form a side of a package along a per QS pathway on which one or more products to packaged travel. 
     
     
       3. The adjustable table according to  claim 1 , further comprising a placement gate statically attached to the table top configured to aid in centering products to be packaged based on the height of the products. 
     
     
       4. The adjustable table according to  claim 3 , wherein inner side walls of the placement gate are angled such that these side walls can help guide the placement of taller products to be packaged toward a center of the bottom sheet material to aid in proper alignment of the side edges of the bottom sheet material and a side edge of a top sheet material. 
     
     
       5. The adjustable table according to  claim 3 , wherein the placement gate comprises one or more laser guides, the laser guides configured to project one or more laser liners downward on the bottom sheet material in the pathway to identify where to place the product to be packaged. 
     
     
       6. The adjustable table according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the cam plates comprise two angled slots therein in each of which one of two respective cam rollers that extend inwardly from the respective inner side panels reside, wherein, during movement of the cam plate, as the cam plates move back and forth in a linear horizontal movement, the cam rollers extending inward from the inner side panels ride up and down the angled slots in the cam plates. 
     
     
       7. The adjustable table according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the inner side panels comprise two cam rollers that extend outwardly toward the respective outer side panels, the outward extending cam rollers of each of the inner side panels extending into corresponding cam slots in the outer side panels that extend in a generally vertical direction so that, during movement of the cam plate, as the cam rollers extending inward from the inner side panels ride up or down the angled slots in the cam plates, the cam rollers extending outward from the inner side panels that engage the generally vertical slots in the outer side panels direct the movement of the table top and the inner side panels in a generally upward direction or downward direction. 
     
     
       8. The adjustable table according to  claim 1 , wherein the cam plates are operated by one or more air cylinders. 
     
     
       9. The adjustable table according to  claim 1 , wherein the cam plates are operated by multiple air cylinders that work in conjunction to move the cam plates by a desired amount in a horizontal direction causing the movable inner panels to ride up or down on respective cam members to move the table top up or down. 
     
     
       10. The adjustable table according to  claim 9 , wherein each cylinder of the multiple cylinders is configured to raise and lower the table using the cam plate by a different distance. 
     
     
       11. The adjustable table according to  claim 10 , wherein the table top can be moved up or down from 0 inches to about 1⅞ inches in about eighth (⅛) of an inch increments. 
     
     
       12. The adjustable table according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the multiple cylinders are secured to a cross bar that is secured to the cam plates on a first end of each of the respective multiple cylinders and to a cross bar that is secured to the outer side panels at a second end of each of the respective multiple cylinders such that the second ends of the multiple cylinders are configured to be held stationary while the first end of the cylinders secured to the cross bar attached to the cam plates are configured to move with the cam plates as the multiple cylinders are activated. 
     
     
       13. The adjustable table according to  claim 1 , wherein the moveable inner side panels comprise tension rollers secured between the moveable inner side panels such that the tension rollers attached to the inner side panels can move upward and downward with the inner side panels as the table top and inner side panels move upward and downward and the outer side panels comprise tension rollers secured between the outer side panels such that the tension rollers attached to the inner side panels move upward and downward with the inner side panels as the table top and inner side panels move upward and downward and the tension rollers attached to the outer side panels remain stationary with the outer side panels as the table top and inner side panels move upward and downward. 
     
     
       14. An adjustable table for use in a packaging forming system, the adjustable table comprising:
 a frame; 
 outer side panels secured to the frame; 
 moveable inner side panels moveably connected to the outer side panels; and 
 a table top secured to the moveable inner side panels, the table top and the inner side panels configured to move upwardly or downwardly relative to the outer side panels; and 
 wherein the moveable inner side panels comprise tension rollers secured between the moveable inner side panels and the outer side panels comprise tension rollers secured between the outer side panels such that the tension rollers secured between the inner side panels move upward and downward with the inner side panels as the table top and inner side panels move upward and downward and the tension rollers secured between the outer side panels remain stationary with the outer side panels as the table top and inner side panels move upward and downward. 
 
     
     
       15. The adjustable table according to  claim 14 , wherein the table top is configured to support bottom sheet material used to form a side of a package along a pathway on which one or more products to packaged travel. 
     
     
       16. The adjustable table according to  claim 14 , further comprising one or more laser guides positioned proximate to the table top, the laser guides configured to project one or more laser liners downward on the bottom sheet material in the pathway to identify where to place the product to be packaged. 
     
     
       17. The adjustable table according to  claim 14 , further comprising cam plates movably connected to the moveable inner side panels and the outer side panels, the cam plates, the inner side panels, and the outer side panels configured to interact with each other so that linear horizontal movements of the cam plates translates to generally upward and downward movement of the table top. 
     
     
       18. The adjustable table according to  claim 17 , wherein the cam plates are operated by one or more air cylinders. 
     
     
       19. The adjustable table according to  claim 17 , wherein the cam plates are operated by multiple air cylinders that work in conjunction to move the cam plates by a desired amount in a horizontal direction causing the movable inner panels to ride up or down on respective cam members to move the table top up or down. 
     
     
       20. The adjustable table according to  claim 19 , wherein each cylinder of the multiple cylinders is configured to raise and lower the table using the cam plate by a different distance. 
     
     
       21. The adjustable table according to  claim 20 , wherein the table top can be moved up or down from 0 inches to about 1⅞ inches in about eighth (⅛) of an inch increments. 
     
     
       22. The adjustable table according to  claim 19 , wherein each of the multiple cylinders are secured to a cross bar that is secured to the cam plates on a first end of each of the respective multiple cylinders and to a cross bar that is secured to the outer side panels at a second end of each of the respective multiple cylinders such that the second ends of the multiple cylinders are configured to be held stationary while the first end of the cylinders secured to the cross bar attached to the cam plates are configured to move with the cam plates as the multiple cylinders are activated. 
     
     
       23. A method of moving a table top of an adjustable table in a packaging forming system, the method comprising:
 providing an adjustable table for use in a packaging forming system, the adjustable table comprising:
 outer side panels; 
 moveable inner side panels moveably connected to the outer side panels with the outer side panels held stationary relative to the moveable inner side panels; 
 a table top secured to the moveable inner side panels, the table top and the inner side panels configured to move upwardly or downwardly relative to the outer side panels; and 
 cam plates movably connected to the moveable inner side panels and the outer side panels; and 
 
 moving the moveable inner side panels relative to the outer side panels to move the table top upwardly or downwardly relative to the outer side panels by moving the cam plates in a linear horizontal movement to generate a generally upward and downward movement of the table top by engaging two cam rollers protruding outward from the cam plate from a portion positioned below the inner side panels with horizontal slots in the respective outer side panels so that, during movement of the cam plates, the cam plates are moved in a horizontal movement. 
 
     
     
       24. The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising engaging two angled slots in the cam plate with respective cam rollers that extend inwardly from the respective inner side panels. 
     
     
       25. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the step of moving the moveable inner side panels relative to the outer side panels comprises moving the cam plate back and forth in a linear horizontal movement so that the cam members extending inward from the inner side panels ride up and down the angled slots in the cam plates. 
     
     
       26. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein each of the inner side panels comprise two cam rollers that extend outwardly toward the respective outer side panels, the outward extending cam rollers of each of the inner side panels extending into corresponding cam slots in the outer side panels that extend in a generally vertical direction. 
     
     
       27. The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the step of moving the moveable inner side panels relative to the outer side panels comprises linearly moving the cam plate so that the cam rollers extending inward from the inner side panels ride up or down the angled slots in the cam plates, while the cam members extending outward from the inner side panels that engage the generally vertical slots in the outer side panels direct the movement of the table top and the inner side panels in a generally upward direction or downward direction.